Police in Belfast deployed water cannons for a second consecutive night to disperse violent anti-immigrant crowds that had gathered following a recent stabbing incident. Rioters threw projectiles at officers and set small fires in several neighborhoods.
Authorities said the unrest was fueled by anti-immigrant sentiment that spread quickly after the stabbing. Northern Ireland’s political leaders appealed for calm as community tensions rose.
Officers in riot gear formed lines to push back demonstrators who had blocked streets in parts of the city. The water cannon deployments represented an escalation of the police response from the previous evening.
The violence in Belfast added to a pattern of anti-immigrant disturbances seen in other parts of the United Kingdom in recent months. Local officials said they were working to restore order and address underlying grievances.
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Sources:
https://www.npr.org/sections/news